Not only were the circumstances of his loan move to Everton a bit of a head-scratcher but nobody knew a great deal about him.

Henen had, predictably, been labelled as a ‘wonderkid’, the latest to come off the Belgium production line and hyped to the maximum, yet the teenager was most definitely unproven.

But the former Anderlecht forward showed enough promise in his season with Everton’s under-21s to convince the club to make him a permanent signing this summer.

David Henen (out of shot) scores for Everton Under-21s

The Blues paid a fee in the region of £200,000 to Olympiakos for the young forward and the plan remains for Henen to be sent out on loan to aid his development.

But Roberto Martinez has been delighted with Henen’s progress to date.

HENEN NEEDED TO HIT THE GYM

The 19-year-old had to get to grips with the rigours of the British game, even in the often sanitised world of Under-21 football.

Henen is a pacy and gifted forward, but as Unsworth explains, he initially found it difficult to cope with the physical demands.

“First of all, he’s physically fit now,” the Blues’ U-21s coach says.

“When he came he was breaking down all the time so he’s done an awful lot of work on the training ground and in the gym to compete.

“It is a totally different test to what he had been used to and we’ve seen flashes of brilliance from him, throughout his time here.

“Now, he’s fine and has got to grips with that side of our game.”

Henen told the ECHO this week: “I have worked lot in the gym this year because in France it was not the same as it was in England.

“It is more physical here so I’ve worked hard in the gym.”

HE’S HAD TO BECOME A TEAM PLAYER

But Henen has also had to learn discipline at Everton.

He arrived on Merseyside bursting with confidence - some said too much.

A graduate of Anderlecht’s academy, Henen went on loan with Monaco B and was beginning to believe his own hype.

But Everton, and Unsworth, have now married his natural gifts with work-rate and an understanding that the team comes first.

“Tactically as well, he’s got the grips with it and the responsibilities he has without the ball,” Unsworth added.

Everton's David Henen in action with Liverpool's Corey Whelan

“He knows he can’t be someone who just plays with the ball.

“His work-rate is unbelievable, when we look back at games and get the stats back, he is right up there.

“We are just looking for consistency now and that end product on a consistent basis.

“He will get there. He is here for the long-term now.

“David is still a young lad, learning the language but he’s a great lad, very popular in the group and has fully bought into the everything Everton.”

MARTINEZ SEES FIRST-TEAM FUTURE FOR BELGIAN

Henen sustained an ankle injury in the closing stages of last term and then suffered a hamstring problem in pre-season.

Martinez has told the ECHO he had planned to offer the Belgian some first-team experience this summer.

Asked if Henen can play for the first-team, the Catalan said: “Of course he can, because he’s got that incredible attribute which is pace, power and very high technical ability.

“David now is getting back to match fitness.

“He hasn’t been able to play 90 minutes, he picked up a really disappointing injury which set him back in pre-season, because I expected him to be involved a little bit more with the first-team squad.

“But it’s great to see him back working towards full fitness.

“Leandro scored another goal for the Under-21s which shows you he has this incredible knack of being in the right place at the right time and selecting the right decision in front of goal. That’s quite unique to have.

Everton FC new signing Uruguayan Leandro Rodriguez

“Both are still adapting to the British game, to the physicality that you need to adapt.

“But it’s exciting to have young players like that, to see that we are going to get some kind of impact in the first team in the long-term.

“That’s very much a future target and something to look forward to.”

Henen, who scored three times last season, signed a three-year-deal in July and added: “I wanted to stay here.

“I don’t know how long it will be before I am ready for the first-team.

“I just want to train and score for the Under-21s and then, maybe, I get the opportunity to play for the first-team.”